A combo-drug designed to treat TB in HIV patients

Scientists revealed that the new drug PaMZ can treat TB in HIV patients without cross interference with retroviral therapy and promises speedy recovery

An estimated two-thirds of all AIDS patients in the world are TB victims

Singapore: A novel drug combination, unveiled at the AIDS 2014 symposium allows tuberculosis to be treated while battling HIV. This could potentially save millions of lives from these most potent killer diseases.

Researchers at the Global TB Alliance said that the new drug called PaMZ regimen killed more TB bacteria and at a faster rate, when compared to the standard therapy. They also said that the drug was seen exhibiting potency even aganist multi-drug resistant TB bacteria. It was observed that AIDS patients increasingly fall prey to these resistant bacteria.

PaMZ comprises two candidate drugs that are not yet licensed for use against TB, called Pa-824 and moxifloxacin, deployed with an existing treatment, pyrazinamide. Scientists also declared that PaMZ showed no interference with the commonly used HIV retroviral drugs.

Clinical trial studies for the drug indicated that 71 percent of people treated with PaMZ were cleared of TB bacteria in their sputum within two months. By comparison, only 38 percent of those on standard therapy were clear at eight weeks.

TB Alliance said, "It was difficult to treat TB in HIV patients due to side effects and cross interference of drugs. However with PaMZ, solutions are in sight. It took us 10 years to get where we are today, so another three years would be necessary until this treatment becomes available worldwide."